CE F243

Soil Mechanics

BITS Pilani Sayantan Chakraborty, Ph.D., AM ASCE, MIE

[email protected]
Pilani|Dubai|Goa|Hyderabad

March 10, 2025 1

 BITS Pilani
Pilani|Dubai|Goa|Hyderabad

Lecture 23
Vertical Stresses Below Surface
Loads
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A Few Inferences Based on the Video…..
 Deformation is not same throughout
 Stress due to external loading is not
same throughout

 Deformation is insignificant at higher

depths and longer radii
 Stress due to external loading is
insignificant at higher depths and
longer radii

 Zone of influence → within which

the stresses and associated
deformations are significant

 To estimate deformation → Need to compute vertical stress below 3

surface loads
Introduction

 Estimation of vertical stresses at any point in soil mass due to external

loading is important for predicting settlement of civil engineering
infrastructures

 Vertical stresses in soil mass are estimated using theory of elasticity

 For soil masses, elastic theory may be assumed to hold true as long
as stresses induced, and the associated strains are assumed to be
relatively small

 High FOS is used for design, hence stresses induced due to overlying
load are relatively small

 Several formulae/equations are used to compute stresses, of which

Boussinesq’s and Westergaard’s equations are most frequently used 4
Boussinesq’s Equation

 Boussinesq’s equation assumptions

 Semi-infinite half space

 Soil mass is elastic
 Soil mass is isotropic
 Soil mass is homogeneous
 Soil is weightless
 Load is a point load acting on the
surface

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Stress Below Point Load

https://www.novapole.com/product-details-87-
tangent-transmission-pole
Stress Below Point Load

 Pressure bulbs/Isobars: Contour of points that have same (vertical) stresses

 Variation of stress on a horizontal section at a given depth
 Variation of stress on a vertical section at a given distance

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Stress Below Point Load
Pressure bulbs/Isobars: Contour of points that have same (vertical) stresses

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Stress Below Point Load

Variation of stress on a horizontal section at a given depth

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/29868622_Verification_of
_mechanistic_prediction_models_for_permanent_deformation_in_as
phalt_mixes_using_accelerated_pavement_testing/figures?lo=1

deformation/permanent-deformation-rutting-classification/
https://www.roadex.org/e-learning/lessons/permanent-
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Stress Below Point Load

Variation of stress on a vertical section at a given distance

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/nag.1010
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Stress Below Line Load

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Stress Below Strip Load

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https://structville.com/design-of-retaining-walls
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/type-footing-construction-abelli-noja/
Stress Below Circular Load

https://www.forconstructionpros.com/concrete/article/214153 13
46/curb-roller-manufacturing-circular-concrete-pours-tips-on-
pouring-a-circular-foundation-for-a-grain-bin
Stress Below Circular Load
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324831708_Guidelines_for_Performin
g_Foundation_Investigations_for_Miscellaneous_Structures/figures?lo=1

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https://www.forconstructionpros.com/concrete/article/214153
46/curb-roller-manufacturing-circular-concrete-pours-tips-on-
pouring-a-circular-foundation-for-a-grain-bin
Stress Below Rectangular Load

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https://theconstructor.org/structural-engg/isolated-footing-design-example-and-excel-sheet/9367/
Stress Below Rectangular Load

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Stress Below Rectangular Load – 2:1 Method
(Approximate Method)

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https://theconstructor.org/structural-engg/isolated-footing-design-example-and-excel-sheet/9367/ http://simplifythefoundationdesign.weebly.com/design-of-square-foundation.html
Stress Below Embankment Load: Osterberg’s
Method

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http://lgam.wikidot.com/embankment
Stress Below Embankment Load: Osterberg’s
Method

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Newmark’s Influence Chart

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Newmark’s Influence Chart

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Newmark’s Influence Chart

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Newmark’s Influence Chart

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Newmark’s Influence Chart

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Westergaard’s Equation

 Boussinesq assumed soil mass is isotropic and homogeneous

 Real soil mass is not homogeneous

 Most soils are deposited in layers (especially sedimentary soils)

 Layers of clays with lenses of coarse-grained soils

 These soils behave like laterally reinforced soils (as if closely spaced
rigid horizontal sheets are present)

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 BITS Pilani
Pilani|Dubai|Goa|Hyderabad

THANK YOU
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